Table



(No Model.) v

' M. MAPLE-S.

FOLDING TABLE.

a win;

Patented Oct-23, 1883.

NITEI) STATES MELVIN MAPLES, OF HARTWIOK, NEW YORK.

FOLDING TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 287,306, dated October 23, 1883.

- Application'filed June 30,1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MELVIN MAPLES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartwick, in the county of Otsego and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Tables; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will e11- able others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a bottom view of my table. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same, and-Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional This invention has relation to folding tables for camp use; and it consists in the construction and novel arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims appended.

Referring by letter to the accompanying drawings, a designates the table-top, provided with transverse strips 1) b on its under face, near each end. These transverse strips 1) I) extend from edge to edge of the table, but are cut away on their inner edges at their ends, as at c, to permit the formation of shoulders (I, having pivot-bearings c e for the upper ends of the folding legs f, which are bored partially through from the inside outwardly at f, to receive the pivot-bearings e and abut against the shoulders d. The legs f are first slipped upon their pivot-bearings e, and the cross-piece g is then secured to the outer faces of the legs by screws and glue in such a position that when the legs are opened out in position for use the upper edge of the cross piece y will be in firm contact throughout its entire length with the longer portion of the under face of the strip 1). The strips 12 are provided midway of their length, in their inner edges, with a vertical rectangular recess, i, the vertical wall of which is flush or in line with the vertical inner face of the cross-piece y when the place in the recess i.

tending entirely through the strip b at this point, for the reception of the pintle l on the outer end of a sliding lock-block, m, the inner pintle, 0, of which has a bearing, a, in a cleat, p, secured to the under face of the table by means of screws and glue at a suitable distance from the strip 1'). To the side of the cleat p nearest to the sliding lock-block m, and near one end of said cleat p, is pivoted a shouldered key, g, which is designed to hold the sliding lockblock m fiat up against the under surface of the table-top when said sliding lock-block m is out of engagement with the recess. i in the strip I), and is also designed to pass up behind the inner end of said sliding lock-block an after it has been turned down, the legs unfolded, and the lock-block slid into the recess 2', to hold the lock-block firmly and tightly in The sliding lock-block is beveled downwardly and outwardly, so that its bearing-surface at the outer end extends clear to the lower edge of the cross-piece 9.

By this construction I dispense with nearly all of the hardware heretofore used. I do not weaken the legs by framing the cross-pieces into them. The bearing-points are accurately constructed, and there can be no wiggling motion of the table when in use. The table is cheap, simple, and durable, and will stand firm when unfolded and set up.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In combination with a table-top, the sliding block m, cross-strip I), provided with a recess, the cleat 1;, key (1, and pivoted legs f, 0011- structed and arranged substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

, MELVIN MAPLES.

Witnesses:

ORLO S. BURCH, LESTER W. MURDOOK. 

